Who is Jesus Christ? – What Does It Mean To Be “Saved”?
Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) and through his crucifixion and resurrection, humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life. Jesus chose to suffer on the cross at Calvary as a sign of his full obedience to the will of God the Father.The choice Jesus made thus counter-positions him as a new man of morality and obedience, in contrast to Adam’s disobedience.
Here is a list of what other religion views about Jesus.
Muslims believe that Jesus was one of Islam’s many prophets, a good and holy man, but certainly not the Son of God.
Hindus believe that Jesus was one of many great and holy men. Many Hindus believe that Jesus was a good teacher and perhaps one of their 330 million avatars. An avatar is an incarnation of the impersonal, supreme being that Hindus believe fills the universe.
Buddhists believe that Jesus was an enlightened man. Do they believe He was God? No.
Yes, there exists today a wide variety of opinions as to who Jesus was and is. Some say He was a great man, others a prophet, an angel, or one of many gods.
God loved the world: He gave his Son so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. (John 3:16)
Bible prophecies fulfilled by Jesus’ birth
Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 7:14
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 5 BC
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.(Isaiah 7:14)
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
Bible prophecy: Micah 5:1-2
Prophecy written: Sometime between 750-686 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 5 BC
In Micah 5:2, there is a prophecy that reveals that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah.
The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah
Bible prophecy: Genesis 49:10
Prophecy written: As early as 1400 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 5 BC
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.(Genesis 49:10)
The Messiah would be a descendant of King David
Bible prophecy: Jeremiah 23:5
Prophecy written: Sometime between 626-586 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: By the birth of Jesus about 2000 years ago
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.(Jeremiah 23:5)
Born to virgin
Jesus was born of a virgin: to show that He was sent into the world by God. His was no ordinary birth – because He was no ordinary human being. He wasn’t just another man – not even a great one. He was God in human flesh, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. As the angel told Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. … She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus (which means ‘the Lord saves’), because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).
Divides the Human History into “A.D” and “B.C”
Today the international standard is to designate years based on a traditional reckoning of the year Jesus was born — the “A.D.” and “B.C.” system. “A.D.” stands for anno domini, Latin for “in the year of the lord,” and refers specifically to the birth of Jesus Christ. “B.C.” stands for “before Christ.”
Jesus was Complete Human
Jesus was born as a human being while still being totally divine.Jesus had to be born as a human being for several reasons. One is outlined in Galatians 4:4–5: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Only a man could be “born under the law.” No animal or angelic being is “under the law.” Only humans are born under the law, and only a human being could redeem other human beings born under the same law. Born under the law of God, all humans are guilty of transgressing that law. Only a perfect human—Jesus Christ—could perfectly keep the law and perfectly fulfill the law, thereby redeeming us from that guilt. Jesus accomplished our redemption on the cross, exchanging our sin for His perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus was Complete God
Scripture is clear that Jesus is God (John 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8), and it is equally clear that He is truly human (Romans 1:2–4; 1 John 4:2–3). Jesus claimed the divine name (John 8:58) and did things that only God can do (Mark 2:1–12; Luke 7:48–50).
Jesus has Authority Over Disease and Nature.
In Matthew 8:1-17, the healing of the leper (vv. 1-4), the healing of the servant (vv. 5-13), and the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother (vv. 14-15), are followed by an evening of many miraculous healings (vv. 16-17).And in Matthew 8:23-9:8 with the stilling of the storm (vv. 23-27), the casting out of demons (vv. 28-34), and the healing of the paralytic and the forgiveness of his sins (9:1-8).
Jesus has Authority Over Death
There were three cases during Christ’s ministry when he raised people from the dead—the daughter of Jairus (Mt. 9:18-26; Mk. 5:21-43), a widow’s son (Lk. 7:11-15), and Lazarus of Bethany (Jn. 11:43-44).cast out demons (Mk. 5:6-7).Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14:22-33)
The Authority To Forgive Sins
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man (Mark 2:10) . Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man(Matthew 9:1-8)
Jesus The Son of God
Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He is God made manifest in human form (John 1:1, 14). Jesus is God’s Son in that He was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35 declares, “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. The title “Son of God” does not indicate Jesus was the literal offspring of His Father. On the contrary, the Bible speaks of Jesus as having existed as God from all eternity.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1).
He did not have a beginning as you or I have had. Therefore He is not a “son” in the sense of a literal offspring. He existed before He was born as a babe in Bethlehem.
The Confession Of Peter Recognized Jesus
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:17).
The Acknowledgment Of The Apostle Paul
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh (Romans 1:1-3).
The Demons Recognize Jesus
And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God?’ (Matthew 8:29).
In What Sense Are They God’s Son?
If human beings and angels can be called, “sons of God,” then, in what sense, if any, is Jesus different?
The answer is that Jesus was the unique “Son of God” in that He possesses the same nature as God. Adam was the “son of God” in the sense that he was created directly by God – he did not have a human father or mother. Angels are the “sons of God” in the sense that they were created by God. Israel was symbolically called God’s son as were the peacemakers. Believers are “sons of God” or “children of God” by faith in Christ.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
Death Couldn’t Hold Him
“The firstborn of the dead” refers to him as the first man to have overcome death and come out of the grave permanently. others who were raised from the dead before him,dead again. Now that Jesus has permanently conquered death we need never fear sickness or death anymore. Jesus has conquered death and the grave and holds the keys of death and hades( the place of departed spirits) revelation 1 :18
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
The gospel is the good news of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). In the beginning of all time, the living God of the universe created all that is not God (Genesis 1). When He was finished creating, God declared all of Creation to be very good (Genesis 1:31). There was no sin, and all Creation dwelt in perfect harmony (Genesis 2:25). Adam and Eve walked in perfect relationship with God. God provided for all their needs and commanded only that they refrain from eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). Desiring to be like God, Adam and Eve listened to the temptations of the Serpent in the Garden of Eden and disobeyed God, committing the first sin (Genesis 3:1-7).
Adam and Eve fell from innocence, and all of creation was cursed along with them (Romans 8:20). What God had declared to be very good, was now corrupted. Still, God was merciful (Genesis 3:21). The Holy God of all Creation allowed Adam and Eve to live, spiritually separated from Him (Genesis 3:22-24).
Through the sin of Adam and Eve, human nature has been corrupted. All people are born into sin with a nature that is sinful (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:2-3). Every person falls short of God’s requirement and standard of holiness (Romans 3:23). He has given us His commands, and we have all broken them. Being sinful people, we are not deserving of right relationship with God. God would be perfectly just to give us death and eternal condemnation in hell (John 3:17-19).
Still, God promised Adam and Eve the Messiah who would come to crush the serpent (Genesis 3:15), restore creation (Romans 8:20-21), and bring His people back into right relationship with Him (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18). Throughout the Old Testament, God chose people to foreshadow the coming Messiah (Hebrews 8:4-6; Romans 5:14), made covenants that would find their fulfillment in the Messiah (Hebrews 8), created a nation through which the Messiah would come (Matthew 22: 41-46; 2 Timothy 2:8; Revelation 22:16), and spoke through the prophets and the Law of the coming Messiah (Matthew 5:39).
The good news is that the Messiah has come! The promise and prophecy of the coming Messiah has been fulfilled (Luke 4:16-21). God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into this world (John 3:16). Jesus Christ, who reigned with God, as God, from before the beginning of time, stepped down from the throne of heaven (John 1:1-3), in obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:5-11), to be conceived, miraculously, to a virgin, Mary, by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38).
Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. Though tempted in every way as we are, Jesus lived in flawless obedience to the will of the Father by the direction of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4:1). When the time for His ministry had come Jesus was baptized by John ‘the baptizer’ and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Luke 3:22). During His life, Jesus performed many signs and wonders among the people to confirm the truth of the gospel that the Messiah, the Savior of the world had arrived as King, to take away the sins of the world (Acts 2:22-23).
Jesus’ own nation rejected Him (John 1:11). Betrayed by one of His closest followers (Mark 14:10), Jesus laid down His own life (John 10:18), in obedience to the plan and foreknowledge of God, before the leaders of His nation and the Roman Empire (Acts 2:22-23). He was scourged (Matthew 27:16; Mark 15:15). A crown of thorns was placed upon His head (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2), and being physically exhausted and unable to carry His own cross, a man named Simon carried Jesus’ cross to the place of His crucifixion (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). Upon arrival, Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18). Hanging on the cross for hours (Luke 23:24), the Father (God) forsook Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) as He took away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and satisfied God’s wrath (Romans 5:6-11). Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” to indicate the sufficiency of His sacrifice as a sinless, perfect man (John 19:30).
On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:1-12). Death had been defeated (Rom 6:23; 2 Tim 1:10; Heb 2:9). His sacrifice on the cross had satisfied the wrath of God (Romans 5:6-11). He was the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:13-14). After forty days of appearing to and teaching His disciples, Jesus ascended to the Father in heaven (Acts 1:1-11). After His ascension, He sent the promised Holy Spirit to His disciples who would testify and witness to all they had seen and heard (Acts 2). The disciples of Jesus preached the Gospel to all who would listen, and many people were saved through the Word they preached (Acts 2:42-47).
Those who believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9) and repent of their sin (Acts 2:38), by turning to follow and worship Jesus Christ (Mark 8:34-35), are saved from their sin and the coming judgment and wrath of God (Romans 5:9). Instead of eternal condemnation in hell (John 3:18; Romans 5:18;2 Thess 2:11-13) , God saves those who believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15; Acts 15:7; Eph 1:13), by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross (Hebrews 9:11-28), to have eternal life with Him (John 3:14-15), in His Kingdom, enjoying and worshipping Him forever (Romans 6:8; Matthew 21:30-31, 25:33-35; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-13; 2 Timothy 4:18; Revelation 11:15, 4:10, 22:3). Ultimately, the good news is this, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, has come to offer salvation to all who would believe in Him so that the saved people of God, known as the Church, will have all eternity to enjoy, worship, and savor Him.
God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has defeated Satan, sin and death. We can do nothing to earn this great salvation that has been offered to us. Our efforts are as filthy rags in the presence of a holy God. We have all fallen short of the glory of God, being children of wrath in our very nature, but God has fulfilled His own requirements of righteousness by the blood and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is only by His grace, His free gift, of salvation to us, that we can be saved. When we believe in Jesus and follow Him, He takes our sin upon Himself at the cross, and gifts His righteousness to us. We need only to repent and receive this free gift through faith in Jesus Christ. When God looks upon a sinner who has been saved by His grace, He sees only the righteousness of Jesus Christ bestowed upon us at the cross. Because of the amazing grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord, we have the undeserved privilege to bow in worship, appreciation, and adoration of our great God.